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Cat Tales: True Stories of Kindness and Companionship With Kitties
We humans love our cats and these surprising true stories will prove our cats love us back! This collection of tales of playfulness, friendship, heroism, and inspiration is sure to touch the soul, tickle the funny bone, and inspire animal lovers everywhere to be the best kitty caretakers and companions they can be. There's Bambi, whose owners taught her to respond to commands in American Sign Language; Millie, who loves exploring the outdoors and goes rock climbing with her owner; Leo, a rescued lion who changed the life of one South African family forever, and more.
160 pages, Library Binding
First published April 11, 2017
3 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Aline Alexander Newman
19 books26 followersAline Alexander Newman is a National Geographic author of seven books. Two of her non-fiction chapter books, APE ESCAPES and ANIMAL SUPERSTARS, have won the ASJA Award for best children's book of the year. And ANIMAL SUPERSTARS was also named to Amazon's list of the "Best Books of 2013" for children ages 6 to 8. Both are also available as @RecordedBooks. HOW TO SPEAK DOG, which Aline co-authored with Gary Weitzman, DVD, won the Animal Behavior Society's Most Outstanding Children's Book award for 2013. It appeals to all ages and led to her adopting a big, black Lab that she and her husband found abandoned on a country road. The dog's name is Moose. A companion volume is called HOW TO SPEAK CAT. When not chasing Moose around, Aline loves making school visits and inspiring kids to read and write. Her newest book for Nat Geo is called CAT TALES. Released in April 2017, Kirkus says "it is like an Internet kitty video in book form."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 29, 2019
Sweet stories that cat lovers will enjoy.
June 4, 2017
Our family has always been a "cat family". When I met my husband, he had two cats and I had one. Our children grew up with our cats as pets and then after long and happy lives, our cats died peacefully. Two years ago this summer, we found a kitten in our garbage can and nursed her, sang to her, and were patient with her until she was ready to come close to us. She has been in our home ever since.
The stories of special cats in CAT TALES will warm your heart and surprise you with their amazing feats of bravery and kindness that these cats shared with others. I was especially fond of Holly's story. Holly found her way back home walking 190 miles to find her owners after she ran away from them on a vacation. Holly was determined to find her way back home and her story was amazing. Our cat, Buddy, many years ago, ran away from home. We thought we would never see him again, but then one night, exactly 30 days later, my husband saw him walking up the driveway. We have no idea where he went or what he had been doing for 30 days, but we were sure glad he was back home. Much like us, Jacob and Bonnie welcomed Holly back home and cared for her after her long journey home. I'm sure they wish Holly could tell them all about her journey!
Other stories, like Monty, who was chosen at a shelter, ended up saving the life of his owner after she suffered from a diabetic attack. With no training, Monty has alerted his owner numerous times to low blood sugar.
This small book is packed full of amazing stories of average cats and even celebrity cats and what makes them so special. Each story is full of photography of the featured cat in his environment and doing what they love.
Children would love having these stories read to them and older children will appreciate reading a story or two during a car ride or before bed. They are quick reads and will leave you feeling happy.
The stories of special cats in CAT TALES will warm your heart and surprise you with their amazing feats of bravery and kindness that these cats shared with others. I was especially fond of Holly's story. Holly found her way back home walking 190 miles to find her owners after she ran away from them on a vacation. Holly was determined to find her way back home and her story was amazing. Our cat, Buddy, many years ago, ran away from home. We thought we would never see him again, but then one night, exactly 30 days later, my husband saw him walking up the driveway. We have no idea where he went or what he had been doing for 30 days, but we were sure glad he was back home. Much like us, Jacob and Bonnie welcomed Holly back home and cared for her after her long journey home. I'm sure they wish Holly could tell them all about her journey!
Other stories, like Monty, who was chosen at a shelter, ended up saving the life of his owner after she suffered from a diabetic attack. With no training, Monty has alerted his owner numerous times to low blood sugar.
This small book is packed full of amazing stories of average cats and even celebrity cats and what makes them so special. Each story is full of photography of the featured cat in his environment and doing what they love.
Children would love having these stories read to them and older children will appreciate reading a story or two during a car ride or before bed. They are quick reads and will leave you feeling happy.
March 8, 2018
If you most frequently are found reading with a cat on your lap, this is the book for you. Featuring appealing, full-page photos and short, magazine-style articles, CAT TALES profiles multiple unique and amazing felines--some who have overcome hardship, others who simply do cute or amazing things.
While mostly upbeat and positive, CAT TALES could occasionally be tone-deaf to the basic welfare of the very creatures it celebrates. A section with blurbs about "Celebrity Cats" had me facepalming the hardest. Felicette is identified as an "astrocat" whose "favorite hangout" was outer space. The text jovially notes: She was strapped into a capsule, attached to a rocket, and blasted into space for 15 minutes, while electrodes implanted in her head sent signals back to earth. Scientists learned a lot, and she was safely recovered. (It does not state that Felicette was euthanized 3 months after her "safe recovery" so her body could be studied.) Felicette was one of numerous cats subjected to some of the darker examples of Cold War-era animal experimentation. Their photographs are widely available, and it's nothing cute, funny, or fun. Opening a helpless creature's skull and permanently wiring her brain with electrodes is not an example of "kindness and companionship with kitties," and the Felicette passage seems woefully out-of-step with the tone of this book.
While mostly upbeat and positive, CAT TALES could occasionally be tone-deaf to the basic welfare of the very creatures it celebrates. A section with blurbs about "Celebrity Cats" had me facepalming the hardest. Felicette is identified as an "astrocat" whose "favorite hangout" was outer space. The text jovially notes: She was strapped into a capsule, attached to a rocket, and blasted into space for 15 minutes, while electrodes implanted in her head sent signals back to earth. Scientists learned a lot, and she was safely recovered. (It does not state that Felicette was euthanized 3 months after her "safe recovery" so her body could be studied.) Felicette was one of numerous cats subjected to some of the darker examples of Cold War-era animal experimentation. Their photographs are widely available, and it's nothing cute, funny, or fun. Opening a helpless creature's skull and permanently wiring her brain with electrodes is not an example of "kindness and companionship with kitties," and the Felicette passage seems woefully out-of-step with the tone of this book.
April 30, 2017
If you love cats this book is for you. Any curiosity questions you have about cats will be answered here. From birth to death, the life of a cat is fascinating. From how they track, to how they find there way around to how they bond with their owners this book is jam packed with just "fur" fun facts, pictures and stories of love, dedication and inspiration. I was completely engaged while reading about all 23 cats featured in this book. A delight for any cat lover!!!!
May 5, 2017
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway and I'm so glad I did. This is a great little book. Perfect for cat lovers of all ages with the pictures, cat facts and stories. It also makes for great bedtime reading for kids as there is a big variety of cat stories, all real and all fascinating. There is a cat who surfs, a cat who rides public transit and cats who help other animals and people. There is even a lion. It would make a wonderful gift for any cat person or kid in your life.
June 1, 2017
Its such a adorable little cat book! It has little stories about different little amazing cats.It has some tips and the pictures are beautiful.Its a very cute book all cat lovers out there be a great gift to.I'm so happy that I was lucky to have won a copy.
May 2, 2017
Eye-catching photographs and heart-felt stories about Cats and the charming roles they play in their families!
August 28, 2019
Kids will be the real fans of this collection of inspirational cat stories.
July 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book of various cat stories! The author included good photos, plus a section on Celebrity Cats, a section on Ask the Expert, and information on improving your photos of cats!
June 23, 2017
Alexander Newman, A. (2017). Cat tales: True stories of kindness and companionship with kitties. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society
They All Saw A Cat and Cat Tales: True Stories of Kindness and Companionship with Kitties pair very well together. The book They All Saw a Cat is a great book to teach students about perspective and differences. This is such a fun simple story about how differently people can see things. Cat Tales is a collection of true stories about cats. It has real photos and great short stories about cats being adventurous, hardworking, awesome, caring, and curious. The text feature that I will be teaching to my kindergartner class would be contents. I would first read the fiction story and guide a discussion about how now we are going to read another story about a cat, but this time it is a nonfiction story. Within that discussion, I would explain that one text feature of a nonfiction book is a Table of Contents. I would show them how to find the specific story that I plan to read. This would need to be one of many examples of introducing and using the Table of Contents. I always use our math curriculum guide to assist in teaching because it gives such a good example of how helpful a Table of Contents can be. The reading strategy would be becoming familiar with nonfiction text features. As a lesson extension, I would have a multitude of nonfiction books with Tables of Contents and post-it notes. I would have students use the post-it notes to mark the Tables of Contents. At the kindergarten level, this is the perfect way to practice identifying text features.
Twin Text- Wenzel, B. (2016). They saw a cat. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books
They All Saw A Cat and Cat Tales: True Stories of Kindness and Companionship with Kitties pair very well together. The book They All Saw a Cat is a great book to teach students about perspective and differences. This is such a fun simple story about how differently people can see things. Cat Tales is a collection of true stories about cats. It has real photos and great short stories about cats being adventurous, hardworking, awesome, caring, and curious. The text feature that I will be teaching to my kindergartner class would be contents. I would first read the fiction story and guide a discussion about how now we are going to read another story about a cat, but this time it is a nonfiction story. Within that discussion, I would explain that one text feature of a nonfiction book is a Table of Contents. I would show them how to find the specific story that I plan to read. This would need to be one of many examples of introducing and using the Table of Contents. I always use our math curriculum guide to assist in teaching because it gives such a good example of how helpful a Table of Contents can be. The reading strategy would be becoming familiar with nonfiction text features. As a lesson extension, I would have a multitude of nonfiction books with Tables of Contents and post-it notes. I would have students use the post-it notes to mark the Tables of Contents. At the kindergarten level, this is the perfect way to practice identifying text features.
Twin Text- Wenzel, B. (2016). They saw a cat. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books
June 22, 2017
Kittens are absolutely adorable. And what better way to spend some time than reading about cats and how they've blessed us with their presence. Cats have personalities as unique as humans. Some of the stories include a little cat that rock climbs with it's owner, a seeing-eye cat, a cat who is an official train station master, and a very large cat that isn't your typical size. The book is small, making it the perfect book to tuck into a purse or book bag for those occasions when you only have a few moments to read. The book is filled with colorful photography, helpful tips from experts, and information about each cat in the stories, including their breed and location.
My children and I really loved this book. The stories have heart and the pictures make it a great book to read with children. But as an adult, I also enjoyed it very much. This is definitely a book we'll be keeping. But it would also make an excellent gift for the cat lover, or child in your life.
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads. All thoughts expressed are my own.
My children and I really loved this book. The stories have heart and the pictures make it a great book to read with children. But as an adult, I also enjoyed it very much. This is definitely a book we'll be keeping. But it would also make an excellent gift for the cat lover, or child in your life.
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads. All thoughts expressed are my own.
May 27, 2017
Intriguing mini-bios of 23 unique cats and their owners that will enchant cat lovers of all ages. Full page photos of the featured animals bleed off the pages, and throughout the book eye-catching, fascinating action shots will capture the interest of younger children who will enjoy having the book read to them. The text is not difficult reading though the font is small for young readers. The "Ask an Expert" section contains curious cat questions with answers by veterinarian Dr. Gary Weitzman.
June 17, 2017
Lots of people love cats. Cats also love their owners. This guide shares 23 stories of compassion, ingenuity and bravery and will most likely tug on your heart.
Exciting photos and stories of cats and some of the most amazing encounters and obstacles they’ve overcome. You’ll meet owners and you’ll see a section on Ask An Expert so you can get the truth about the secret life of cats.
Exciting photos and stories of cats and some of the most amazing encounters and obstacles they’ve overcome. You’ll meet owners and you’ll see a section on Ask An Expert so you can get the truth about the secret life of cats.
November 17, 2019
I am a cat person. So of course this book was totally awesome. It tells you all these amazing stories that are sad, cool, funny, and amazing. There are also sad, cool, funny, and amazing pictures. This book is loaded with 23 stories. I checked it out from the library only twice. I am surprised I don’t own it. I definantly recommend it.
January 29, 2018
Absolutely amazing! I love every inch of this tiny masterpiece!
July 18, 2017
This is a really lovely book. For catlovers especially there will be many stories that will no doubt sound familiar to them. The book is divided into categories of cats (for example, Adventurous) and within each of these categories a specific cat is featured. Each story describes how the cat’s owner came to have it and then goes on to talk about the special ability that sets them apart from other cats.
The quality of the writing in this book is really good and very pleasurable to read. I found myself having a laugh at some of the stories and touched by others. There is something here for every cat lover. Some of the stories include: a rock climbing cat; a school traffic warden; a bus riding cat; a seeing eye cat for the family’s dog; there’s even a story about a lion! I absolutely love this book and believe it is a worth while read.
The quality of the writing in this book is really good and very pleasurable to read. I found myself having a laugh at some of the stories and touched by others. There is something here for every cat lover. Some of the stories include: a rock climbing cat; a school traffic warden; a bus riding cat; a seeing eye cat for the family’s dog; there’s even a story about a lion! I absolutely love this book and believe it is a worth while read.
February 26, 2020
Found this book by accident after it was abandoned in the library with a ripped page. While repairing the life story of Corduroy, previously the world's oldest living cat (RIP), I couldn't help but become interested in him and the rest of the sweet kitties in this book. From the hilarious (a skateboarding cat) to the heartwarming (a "seeing-eye cat" for a blind doggo), this book is full of delightful true tales of exceptional felines. With small pages and short chapters, this can be read in one hour-long sitting (by an adult or older child) or split up into many sessions for a younger kiddo. Also contains sidebars with excellent fun facts about cats and lots of cute photos. Perfect for cat-loving kids or grownups who need an emotional pick-me-up.
September 5, 2017
The pictures are adorable and the stories in this book are so heart touching. I always thought that cats were cute and playful but at the heart of it they were just little jerks. It is like what the book says they love you they just show it in a different way.
October 18, 2017
Cats are amazing creatures. I love them so much. They are very resilient. Even though they don't act like they love their owners sometimes, they definitely do. I have three cats and they are my fur babies.
January 2, 2018
Upbeat and heartwarming, but not overly sentimental. The stories draw a reader in, and the extra factual tidbits peppered throughout are just enough to whet the curiosity to seek out more information, which I think is a perfect balance for this sort of book.
November 18, 2019
A super fun read about extraordinary felines and their people and their exploits. I loved the photos. It was a joy to read a few stories every night before going to sleep. Cat Tales gave me sweet dreams.
August 3, 2017
Cute, light and uplifting.
August 7, 2017
Excellent photography. Such adorable kitties.
August 25, 2017
It's a book about cats.
August 28, 2017
Darling book full of cat stories of their interactions with humans. Stories are interspersed with facts about cats and full-color photos.
December 10, 2017
A cute collect of stories about different cats.
February 19, 2018
Cute cat pictures, interesting stories about extraordinary cats, and lots of information about cat's lifestyles.
June 6, 2018
Lots of stories about cool cats.
December 2, 2018
Every cat lover must have this book! It is full of warm real stories of adorable cats! I also liked the information they give about the cats thoroughout the book.
January 21, 2020
I loved this book because cats!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews